Loire Flashcards
Who played a major role in creating navigable tributaries in the Loire?
Dutch
What are the main white grapes of Loire?
Sauvignon Blanc Chenin Blanc (aka Pineau de Loire) Melon de Bourgogne Folie Blanche Chardonnay Romaratin Chasselas
What are the main red grapes of the Loire?
Cabernet Franc Pinot Noir Gamay Grolleau (aka Groslot) Pineau d’Aunis
What grape is sometimes referred to as Breton?
Cabernet Franc
How many miles does the Loire cover?
600 miles from Muscadet to Pouilly-sur-Loire
How does the climate change from west to east in the Loire?
Nantes has maritime climate- damp and mild
Further east, continental climate prevails.
What are the predominant soil types found in the Loire?
Chalk, schist and clay
What are the unifying characteristics in Loire wines despite soil and climatic differences in the regions?
Lightness and acidity
What are the four main sub regions within Loire from west to east?
Pays Nantais
Anjou
Tourmaline
Centre
What are the AOP regions in Nantes?
Muscadet Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Fiefs Vendeens Gros Plant du Pays Nantais Coteaux d’Ancenis
What grape is used in the production of all Nantes wines?
Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet)
What is one of the largest AOP’s in France and accounts for over 80% of Muscadet production?
How many communes are grapes sourced from?
Where is it located?
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
23 Communes
Near the confluence of the Sevre and Maine Rivers
What are the 3 sub zones that now exist within Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine also known as “Cru Communaux”?
Caisson, Gorges and Le Pallet
What are the requirements of “Cru Communaux”?
Higher minimum alcohol
Lower yields
18-24 months on the lees (higher than is legally required for sur lie designation)
What are the AOPs of Anjou Saumur?
Anjou Anjou-Villages Anjou-Village Brissac Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire Bonnezeaux Cabernet d’Anjou Cabernet de Saumur Coteaux de Saumur Coteaux de l’Aubance Coteaux du Layon Haut-Poitou Quartes du Chaume Rose d’Anjou Saumur Saumur-Champigny Savennieres Savennieres-Coulee de Serrano Savennieres-Roche aux Moines
What region has a reputation of producing sweet wines from Chenin Blanc?
What is the trend in the region these days?
Anjou AOP
Trending to drier styles of white
What is the local name for Chenin Blanc in Anjou?
Pineau de la Loire
Describe the production and grapes used in Anjou-Villages AOP
Red only
Cabernet Franc based wines
Cabernet Sauvignon also produced
What wines are produced in Anjou-Villages Brissac?
Red from Gamay
Area covers same communes as Coteaux l’Aubence
What are the grapes used in Rose d’Anjou production?
Cot (Malbec)
Gamay
Grolleau
Pineau d’Aunis
What is the largest most commonly seen appellation in Anjou?
Coteaux du Layon
What are the two cru villages of Coteaux du Layon?
Bonnezeaux
Quarts de Chaume
What is the grape used in Bonnezeaux AOP?
Chenin Blanc
What style of wine is produced in Quarts de Chaume AOP?
Sweet wine from Chenin Blanc
In better years Botrytis forms
What region is located on the north bank of the Loire river facing Coteaux de l’Aubance and produces wines from Chenin Blanc that are dense, dry, rich and structured.
Savennieres
What small 12 acre enclave is the second smallest appellation in France as a single estate?
Savennieres Clos de la Coulee de Serrant
What is another cru of Savennieres?
Savennieres Roche Aux Moines
What would be the main production differences in a wine labeled Savennieres AOP vs Savennieres Roche Aux Moines AOP?
Savennieres Roche Aux Moines would have lower yields, higher must weight and higher minimum alcohol.